Dunkirk council OKs ’18 budget

DUNKIRK — After a couple of weeks of consideration, the city now has a budget for next year.

Dunkirk City Council, which tabled a vote on the budget at its Sept. 25 meeting in an effort to ensure there weren’t any mistakes, approved a 2018 budget Monday totaling $1.67 million.

Council also continued to delay action on a proposed water rate increase, received an update on a downtown construction project and discussed leaf pick-up days.

Before the budget vote, however, Mayor Gene Ritter opened the floor to the public, with Rick Jones the only resident to take the opportunity to speak. His biggest concern about the budget? Having funds appropriated to sidewalk repairs.

“Some of these sidewalks on our side streets, we got senior citizens that like to walk, some of these sidewalks are buffled up. No sidewalks there. Bushes grow over top of the sidewalk, we can’t get around to walk,” Jones said. “Some of these sidewalks are terrible.”

Council member Jack Robbins said the city is looking to repair some of the sidewalks in 2023 by using federal funds.

Council members Bryan Jessup, Jesse Bivens, Tom Johnson and Robbins, absent Lisa Street, approved the budget unanimously.

Council for the second meeting in a row decided not to vote on a proposed 50-percent increase in the city’s water rates because officials have yet to receive rates from the accounting firm Umbaugh & Associates. The rate was proposed during the Aug. 29 meeting and a public hearing and vote initially scheduled for Sept. 25.

The increase has been proposed in order to pay for future capital investments.

City attorney Wes Schemenaur is hoping to have the rates from Umbaugh in a couple of days to set up a public hearing for the Oct. 23 council meeting.

Ritter also updated the council on the former Todd Opera House building, noting that materials are being moved construction appears to be well ahead of schedule. Developers Ray Willey and Bill Brown plan to install two restaurants — one serving barbecue, the other Mexican food — in the building.

Additionally, Robbins announced dates for leaf pick up. On Nov. 16, 22 and 30 and Dec. 7, residents may place their leaf bags on the edge of the street and city workers will pick them up.

In other business, council:

Approved the following: A $400 donation to “A Better Life – Brianna’s Hope” from the mayor’s promotional funds; the purchase of undercover police equipment totaling $6,585 and a new saw and blade to trim greenery around creeks and wastewater treatment plant totaling $634.92; and payment of $7,714.47 in bills from the parks department.

Rescinded a previous motion to spend $8,440 on Christmas lights from Bronner’s and approved a new total of $8,660 for Christmas lights.

Discussed getting a quote to repair mold damage in the Dunkirk municipal building. $48,475 was spent in 2008 to remedy a similar issue.

OK’d payment of claims totaling $157,962.78.